Clutch plate



' May 16, 1950 H. v. REED 2,507,646

CLUTCH PLATE Filed Jan. 2, 1947 Patented May 16, 1950 TENT FFICE CLUTCHPLATE Harold V. Reed, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Borg- WarnerCorporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois ApplicationJanuary 2, 1947, Serial No. 719,769

9 Claims. l

This invention relates to improvements in friction clutch plates such asused in clutch assemblies for coupling driving and driven members in amotor vehicle.

These improvements are particularly directed to the provision, in adriven clutch plate assembly, of a friction facing mounting structurewhich is characterized by being inherently yieldable. Further, it iscontemplated that such facing mounting structure may be separatelyassembled as a unit so that it is capable of ready attachment in itsunitary form to a member of the hub portion or inner region of a clutchplate for effecting a driving connection between the facings and thehub.

A primary object of the present invention is to improve the constructionand operation of friction clutch plates such as contemplated herein,whereby to increase the eiiiciency, operation and dependability of saidclutch plates.

Another primary object resides in providing a clutch plate of thefriction type wherein the facing material is carried by a plurality ofyieldable cushions which are separate from and are secured at theirradially inner regions to a thin springy ring, which ring in turn issuitably attached to the rim portion of a member carried by the hub.

In the present arrangement a hub supported non-yielding member, such asa disc or washer, has its periphery recessed and the narrow yieldablering which supports the cushions is attached to this member in spanningrelation across said recesses. Differently stated, a non-yieldingcentral disc or washer has a plurality of outwardly projecting radialears to which said narrow spring ring is secured.

Advantageously, the cushions preferably have inwardly extending reducednecks which terminate in circumferentially elongated feet, the latterbeing attached to the narrow ring at the recess-spanning regionsthereof; in other words, between the ears of the non-yielding centraldisc. The ring and cushions provide an inherently yieldable mountingstructure for the facings, and said structure is capable of beingassembled as a unit, preferably with the facings thereon and thenriveted to the peripheral region of a hub carried member.

The facing mounting structure, comprised of the narrow ring andcushions, is formed of light weight thin yieldable sheet steel, suchmetal having the inherent yieldability which characterizes clock-springsteel and it is materially thinner than the metal from which the centraldisc member is made. A metal which is well adapted for use as a cushionof the character herein contemplated is known commercially aspre-tempered clock spring steel, Rockwell l0-44, C scale, and it ispreferred to form the narrow ring as well as the separate cushions fromthis metal. Thus the outer region or zone of the clutch platecontemplated herein is materially reduced in weight with the result thatthere is a minimum of rotational inertia present in this clutch plateduring idling movement of the member which carries the clutch plate.

Additional objects, aims and advantages of the invention contemplatedherein will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after theconstruction and operation of the improved friction clutch plate isunderstood from the within description. It is preferred to accomplishthese numerous objects, and to practice the invention, in substantiallythe manner hereinafter fully described and as more particularly pointedout in the appended claims. Reference is now made to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary face elevation of a friction clutch plateembodying the present improvements.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View taken along the plane of line 2-2on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is another transverse sectional view taken along the plane ofline 3 3 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an edge View of a peripheral portion of the clutch plate asviewed in the plane of line ll-A at the top of Fig. l.

The drawings are to be understood as being somewhat of a schematiccharacter for the purpose of disclosing a typical or preferredembodiment of the improved clutch plate contemplated herein, and inthese drawings the same reference characters identify like or similarparts in the different views.

The friction clutch plate herein shown comprises a central hub l0 havinga radially extending flange I I, said hub being centrally bored andprovided with splines i2 which adapt the clutch assembly for slidingaxial movement on the splined portion. of a rotatable shaft, not shown.

rlhe friction facings I3, i3, are preferably two annular flat ringswhich are spaced axially from each other and define at least a portionof the annular outer zone or region of the clutch plate assembly. Thesefacings, which are of the usual friction material, are adapted to bepacked betweenvthe flywheel and an axially movable pressure plate foreffecting clutch engagement, and said facing rings are maintained in theouter region of the assembly and in yieldably spaced relation to eachother by means of a novel supporting structure which will now bedescribed.

The facing mounting structure herein shown by way of example, preferablycomprises a plurality of cushion members Ill which may be peripherallyelongated as best seen in Fig. 1, and they are of a generallyrectangular shape to provide an approximately continuous cushion betweenthe facings I3, I3. The major portions of these cushions, which areinterposed between .the

facings I3, I3, have a wavy form as seen in Fig. 4 with the crests ofthe waves in contactl with the respective facing rings. These contactingparts of the cushions and facings are secured together by rivets I5having their heads-set in counterbored holes I3 in the respectivefacings, and the portions of each facing opposite a rivet isprovidedwith an aperture Il to accommodate the upset ends-of. the rivets.

Thefinner regions of'y the cushions have reduced neck portions I8extending radially inward and terminating in-elongated feet I9 asclearlyy seen inFig. l. The feet is of the cushionsrareassembledfwith-arrannular member such as athin narrow ring 270 towhich-the feet are anchored by rivets-2|;

From the foregoing, it will be apparent the mounting structure forsupporting the frictionfacings is of a composite character whichv isadapted tobeassembled as a complete unitV for theconvenientmounting ofthe facings on-a suitable portionv of the hub-unit 22.

In:addition to the hub and flange, the hub unit 22-.comprisesran annularwasher or retainer plate 23 mounted-onthe hub I0 at one side of theflange I l andra similar. annular washer or retainer plate 24 ismountedeon the other side of hub flange II as-shownin-Fig. 2. Thesewashers 23 and 24 and thefhubange II all have a plurality of alignedapertures-on windows'which are adaptedto receive a plurality of helicalspringsfZS-for the purpose of effecting a torsional vibration dampenerconnectionoff the well-known type between the huband-thefacing mountingstructure. Thetwo retainer washers 23 and 2d are tied together andmaintainedinassembly bymeans of spool pins 26, the central barrels of:which are positioned in marginal recessesA 21 in hub flange II to permitrelative rotative movement between theseassem'- .l

ring portion 2li-of the' facing mounting structure' is anchored' tothese ears 28 by rivets 30, substantially as clearly shown in Figs. 1and 2. The narrow thinmeta-l ring 2S of the mounting assemblyisthuspositioned in spanning relation to therecesses 28- atv the margin of theretainer washer 24i It will be noted that this arrangeV Ii i) fl-f) mentIis such'that the feet IS of the cushions are r?.

ite/facing4 mounting structure is madeY of thiny sheetsteel-characterized by its yieldability which is comparable with and maybe the type of metal known as pre-temperedclock-spring steel, Rockwelll0-44, "C scale. The cushions and the narrow ring are of a gauge of thispre-tempered clock-spring steel within the range of .022 to .027 gauge,preferably .025 gauge. As before stated, the mounting structurecontemplated herein is adapted to be assembled as a composite uniteither with or without the annular friction facings thereon, and as aunit the same may be readily attached to the retainer washer 24 in themanner described.

While this invention has been described in detailin' its presentpreferred form or embodiment, it' will befapparent to persons skilled inthe art, after. understanding `the improvements, that various changesand` modifications may be made therein without departing from the spiritor scope thereof. It is aimed' in the appended claims to cover all`suchchanges and modications.

I claim:

1. Pefriotionclutchfplate assembly comprising a hubihavingaradialflange; axially spaced annula-.r-` friction facings-.dening theouterA region of the clutch plate assembly inspaced relationto saidhubflange; a non-yielding central plate carried by said'hubunit alongsidesaid angasaidcentral plate and hub -together defining the inner -egionof the clutch plate assembly in spaced relation-to saidannularfacings;spaced ears on the periphery of-saidcentral plate projecting radiallyoutward-therefrom into the space between said inn.J yandfouterA regions;a-narrow ring securedto saidears,V said-ring being formedfromthin'yieldable sheet steel'of materially less thickness than plate; anda plurality ofv separate cushion membersfsecured to'andsupporting saidannular fri tionl facingsfromsaid narrow ring; each cushion membercomprisingan elongated circumferentially waved body portion interposedbetween and separating said-facings for effecting relative-axialyieldability of. said facingsunder clutchoperation; afnarrow neckportion projectingY radially inward from the inner margin of said bodyportion; and` a circumferentially elongated foot portion atthe inner endof said neck portion; said foot portionoverlying saidvnarrowy yieldablemetal-ringband secured theretoina region of said ring between the spacedears of said eentralvplate, each cushion member being particularlycharacterized by having its body, neck and 'foot portions formedintegral from thin yieldable sheet steel of approximately the same gaugesaid narrow ring.

2.- Alfriction clutch plate assembly comprising a hub-having a radialilange; a pair of axially i spaced annular friction facings defining atleast a portion of the outer region of the clutch plate assembly; anon-yielding central plate carried by said hub alongside said flange andhaving portions extending radially outward beyond the peripheryofsaidvhub flange, saidcentral plate and hub as a unit defining theinner region of the clutch plate assembly spaced from the outer region;-a narrow ring secured to the periphery of said central plate andextending towards said facings, said ring'being formed from thinyieldable sheet. steel; and a plurality of separate cushion memberssupporting said annular friction faeings on said thin narrow ring; eachcush ion member comprising an elongated circumferentially waved bodyportion interposedv between andv separating said facings for effectingrelative axial yieldability of said facings under clutch4 operation; andmeans for attaching the body portions of said cushions to said narrowyieldable ring independently of said non-yielding central plate, saidcushion members being particularly characterized by being separatelyformed from thin yieldable sheet steel of approximately the same gaugeas said narrow ring.

3. In a friction clutch plate assembly, a hub having a radial flange; apair of annular friction facings spaced outwardly of said hub andflange; a non-yielding disc carried by said hub, the periphery of saiddisc having portions extending radially beyond the periphery of said hubflange and being spaced inward from said friction facings; a thin narrow:metal ring of less thickness than said disc and having the yieldablecharacteristics of clock-spring sheet steel, said narrow ring secured toperipheral portions of said disc; 1.

and a plurality of separate cushions each carried by said thin narrowring independent of said non-yielding disc, said cushions formed of thinyieldable sheet steel and being interposed between and secured to saidfriction facings for effecting relative axial yieldability of saidfacings during clutch operation.

4. In a friction clutch plate assembly, a hub having a radial flange; apair of annular friction facings spaced outwardly of said hub and i,

ange; a non-yielding disc carried by said hub and having portionsextending radially outward from the periphery of said hub flange, theperiphery of said disc being spaced from said friction facings andhaving .a plurality of recesses 5.,

in its margin between said radial portions, a thin narrow ring spanningsaid recesses, said narrow ring having less thickness than said disc`and secured to said radial portions of said disc; and a plurality ofseparate cushions each carried by said thin narrow ring, said cushionsformed of thin spring sheet steel and being interposed between andsecured to said friction facings for effecting relative axialyieldability of said facings during clutch operation.

5. In a friction clutch plate assembly, a hub having a radial flange; apair of annular friction facings spaced outwardly of said hub andflange; a non-yielding disc carried by said hub, the periphery of saiddisc being spaced from said friction facings and having radiallyprojecting ears; a thin narrow ring of less thickness than said discsecured to said ears; and a plurality of separate cushions each securedto said thin narrow ring in the regions thereof between said ears, saidcushions formed of thin spring sheet steel and being interposed betweenand secured to said friction facings for effecting relative axialyieldability of said facings during clutch operation.

6. In .a friction clutch plate assembly, a hub having a radial flange; anon-yielding disc carried by said hub and extending beyond said flange,said disc having portions projecting beyond its periphery; a yieldablefacing mounting structure carried by said disc, said mounting structurecomprising a narrow ring of thin yieldable sheet steel secured to theprojecting peripheral portions of said disc; a plurality of structurallyseparate transversely yieldable cushions each secured to said thinnarrow spring ring, said cushions being formed of thin spring sheetsteel; and annular friction facings carried on opposite sides of saidcushions, said mounting structure characterized by its yieldabilitywhereby to effect relative axial yieldability of said facings duringclutch operation.

7. A friction clutch plate comprising, a hub having a radial flange;axially spaced friction facings of annular form defining an outer regionof clutch plate spaced from said hub flange; a

heavy non-yielding central plate alongside said flange and operativelyconnected thereto, said plate having radially projecting ears; and afacing mounting structure carried by said plate, said mounting structurebeing characterized by its lightness and yieldability, and comprising anarrow ring having approximately the radial width of said ears andriveted thereto; and a plurality of separately formed cushion memberssecured to `and supporting said facings from said ring, each cushionmember integrally embracing an elongated wavy body portion lying betweensaid facings, a narrow neck extending inward toward said ring, andelongated feet overlying and riveted to said ring between said ears;said cushion members and narrow ring together providing a facingsupporting structure which is characterized by being formed wholly ofthin yieldable sheet steel of a gauge approximately .025, whereby axialyieldability of said friction facings during clutch operation iseffected.

8. In a friction clutch plate assembly, a hub; a pair of annularfriction facings spaced radially outward from said hub; a widenon-yielding disc separate from but operatively connected to said hub,the outer periphery of said disc being spaced inwardly from saidfriction facings carrier means defined by a narrow annular band ofyieldable sheet metal projecting radially outward from the periphery ofsaid disc toward said friction facings; means attaching said yieldableband at spaced intervals on the periphery of said disc; and a pluralityof separate spring metal cushions interposed between and attached tosaid friction facings for effecting relative axial movement of saidfacings during clutch packing pressure, said cushions having radiallyinward extending portions overlying said yieldable band and securedthereto between the band attaching means.

9. In a friction clutch plate assembly, a hub having a radial flange; apair of annular friction facings spaced radially outward from said hubflange; a wide non-yielding disc carried by said hub alongside saidflange and operatively connected thereto, spaced portions of said discprojecting radially outward beyond the periphery of said flange andspaced inwardly from said friction facings; a narrow annular band ofyieldable sheet metal projecting radially outward from the periphery ofsaid disc towards said friction facings; means attaching said yieldableband to said spaced outward portions of said disc; and a plurality ofseparate spring metal cushions interposed between and attached to saidfriction facings for effecting relative axial movement of said facingsduring clutch packing pressure, said cushions having radially inwardextending portions overlying said yieldable band and secured theretobetween the spaced outer portions of said disc.

HAROLD V. REED.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,256,709 Geyer Sept. 23, 19412,256,713 Hunt Sept. 23, 1941 2,283,112 Wemp May l2, 1942 2,391,495 WempDec. 25, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 512,009 Great BritainAug. 28, 1939

